Stirring device.



E. WEISS.

' STIBBING DEVICE.

APPLIOATIOK FILED NOV. 17, 1908.

Patented Mar. 2, 1909.

2 SHEETS-$11331 1.

:Rs cm, wAsmmnaN. n. c.

E. WEISS. STIR-RING DEVICE-f APPLIOATION mun NOV. 17, 1908.

Patented Mar. 2, 1909.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

FFTQE.

EARNEST WEISS, OF MONROE, WISCONSIN.

STEERING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented March 2, 1909.

Application filed November 17, 1908. Serial No. 463,030.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EARNEST WErss, a citizen of the United States, residing at Monroe, in the county of Green and State of Wisconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Stirring Devices, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to improvements in stirring devices and more particularly those used. in making cheese.

The object of the invention is to improve and simplify the construction and operation of devices of this character and thereby render them less expensive, more durable in construction, and convenient and effective in operation.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists of the novel features of construction and the combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which-- Figure 1 is a view partly in elevation and partly in section of my improved cheese stirring device; Fig. 2 is a horizontal section with parts in top plan; Fig. 8 is a detail section taken on the plane indicated by the line 33 in Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a vertical section taken on the plane indicated. by the line 44 inFig. 1; and Fig. 5 is a detail perspective of the clutch device for throwing the stirrer into and out of operation.

In the drawings 1 denotes a kettle or other receptacle suspended from an arm or bracket 2 on a pivoted upright 3 so that it may be swung toward and from a fire, stove, or heater of any description. Said upright 3 is provided at its top and. bottom with pivots 4 arranged in suitable bearings and the arm 2 which projects at right angles or horizontally from it is strengthened by a diagonal brace 5. The kettle is detachably suspended from the outer end of the arm by means of a double or S-shaped hook 6 one end of which is engaged with the beam and the other end with the bail handle of the kettle.

7 denotes a suitable stirrer having a stem or shank 8 secured in one end of an angular holder 9 by means of which said stirrer is adjustably connected to a rotating shaft 10. The latter is vertically disposed and mounted for rotation in a bearing tube 11 secured by U-bolts or fastenings 12 to the outer portion of the arm 2. Said holder 9 has its vertically extending end flared or of gradually increasing width to telescopically receive the lower end of the shaft and also an adjusting wedge 13. The latter and the set screw 14 arranged in the threaded opening in said end of the holder and adapted to have its inner end impinge against the shaft 10 are provided for the purpose of varying the angle of the lower end of the holder 9 with respect to said shaft 10 and, consequently, of the position and path of tho stirrer 7 in the kettle.

The stirrer is driven from a main drive shaft 15 arranged in suitable bearings and connected by a sprocket chain gearing 16 to a countershaft 17 also suitably j ournaled. This countershaft has one of its ends connected by a universal joint 18 and a telescopic or extensible shaft 19 to a vertically disposed. shaft 20 arranged upon the pivoted upright 3 and in turn connected by a sprocket chain gearing 21 to the stirrer shaft 10. These driving connections are provided for the purpose of imparting the motion of the counter-shaft 7 to the stirrer shaft 10 while the arm 2 is being swung to move the kettle toward or from the fire and also operate the stirrer without regard to the position of the kettle with respect to the fire.

The sprocket chain 21 passes around a sprocket wheel 22 fixed upon the upper portion of the vertical shaft 20, which latter is j ournaled in the bearing arms of a bracket 23 secured to one side of a pivoted upright 3. Said chain 21 also passes around a sprocket wheel 24 loosely mounted on the upper portion of the shaft 10 and adapted to be locked to said shaft for rotation therewith by the clutch device shown in Fig. 5. This device comprises a hub 25 formed upon the upper face of the sprocket 2 1 and provided in its top with a rectangular socket 26 to receive a similar shaped lower end of a clutch member or sleeve 27 formed at its top with a radial flange or finger piece 28 and in its central bore which receives the shaft 10 with a key way or passage 29 to receive a key 30 provided upon the shaft 10 just above the hub 25. It will be seen upon reference to Fig. 5 that when the clutch member 27 is turned upon the shaft to bring its key-way 29 into alinement with the key 30, said member may he slid downwardly upon the shaft so that it will be locked to the latter and so that its lower end will enter the socket 26 to lock the sprocket 24 to the shaft 10 for rotation therewith; and that when said clutch member 27 is moved upwardly upon the shaft to disengage the key 30 from its key-way 29, and said member 27 is then turned to disaline said parts, as shown in Fig. 5, the member will be supported in its elevated inoperative position by the key 30 and the sprocket 2% will be permitted to rotate independent of the shaft 10.

T he extensible shaft 19 comprises tubular section 31 formed with a rectangular bor or passage to receive a similar shaped end 32 of another section nected by the universal joint 18 to the shaft 17 and the section 33 is mounted in a bearing arm 3 1 of a bearing member 35 which is rotatable upon the lower portion of the vertical shaft 20. Said section 33 of the extensible shaft is also provided with a beveled pinion or gear 36 which meshes with a beveled gear 37 upon the shaft 20. The gears 36, 37 are constantly in mesh without regard to the position or movement of the upright 3, the same being permitted by the universal joint 18, the sliding engagement of the sections of the telescopic shaft 19 and the rotation of tie bearing 35 on the shaft 20.

lhe sprocket chain 16 passes around a sprocket wheel 38 fixed to the shaft 15 and around either one of two sprocket wheels 39, 4O fixed to the shaft 17. 'l'he chain is shown engaged with the sproclre 39, which latter is smaller than the sprocket 40, the sprocket 40 being employed only when it is desired to drive the stirrer at a very low speed. The driving chain 16 is made very loose and in order to stretch it to a greater or less extent and thereby vary the speed of the shaft 17 with respect to the shaft 15, a pair of flange wheels or idle pulleys 41, 42 are engaged with the inner faces of the opposite stretches of the chain and journaled upon a lever 43 which is pivoted at a point between said pulleys on a pivot 44 and one end of which is provided with a suitable handle 45. By shifting the angle of the lever 43 the chain 16 may be stretched to a greater or less extent so that the speed of the stirrer may be controlled as desired.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed is:

1. A device of the character described comprising a support, a receptacle, a rotary shaft carrying a stirrer arranged in said receptacle, a driving element loosely arranged on the shaft and provided with a flat faced socket, a key upon the shaft above the socket, and a clutch member slidably and rotatably mount- The section 31 is coneraser ed upon the shaft and provided with a keyway to receive a key and having a flat faced portion to enter said socket.

A device of the character described comprising a support, a receptacle, a rotary stirrer shaft, a stirrer, a holder for said stirrer provided with a flared tubular portion to receive the shaft, a set screw in said tubular portion, and a wedge in said tubular portion.

3. A device of the character described comprising a pivoted upright having a supporting arm, a receptacle suspended from said arm, a vertical bearing on said arm, a stirrer shaft in said bearing, a stirrer arranged upon the lower end of said shaft, a bearing upon said upright, a vertical shaft in said bearing, driving connections between the vertical shaft and the stirrer shaft, a bearing rotatable upon the vertical shaft, a drive shaft, an extensible shaft having telescopic sections arranged for longitudinal sliding movement with respect to each other but locked for rotation with each other, a universal joint between one section of the extensible shaft and said drive shaft, the other section of said extensible shaft being arranged for retation in the rotatable bearing on said vertical shaft, and m shing gears upon the last mentioned section of the extensible shaft and said vertical shaft. 4. A device of the character described comprising a pivoted upright having a supporting arm, a receptacle suspended from said. arm, a vertical bearing on said arm, a stirrer shaft in said bearing, a stirrer arranged upon the lower end of said shaft, a bearing upon said upright, a vertical shaft in said bearing, driving connections between said stirrer shaft and said vertical shaft, a clutch between said driving connections and said stirrer shaft, a rotatable bearing on said vertical shaft, a main drive shaft, a countershaft, sprocket chain gearing between the countershaft and main drive shaft, means for tightening and loosening the chain of said sprocket chain gearing, an extensible shaft having one section mounted in said rotatable bearing, meshing gears on said section of the extensible shaft and said vertical shaft, and a universal joint between the other section of the extensible shaft and said countershaft.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature in the presence of two witnesses EARNEST E JEISS.

- Witnesses:

JNO. L. SnEnRoN, NORA HEITZ. 

